As an event organiser or owner, providing a great attendee experience should be your top priority. A positive attendee experience can result in increased satisfaction, better retention and a more memorable event.
Here are our tips to leave an everlasting impression on your attendees.
Plan ahead
Planning ahead and having a solid event plan is key to providing a great attendee experience. Consider the attendee's needs and preferences when planning the event and make sure you have all the necessary resources to meet those needs. This could include a clear schedule, maps, adequate restrooms, accessible food options, the location of your event and even the size of your event.
Offer a mobile app
A mobile app can make the event experience much more convenient for attendees. An app can provide attendees with access to the schedule, speaker information, and other event details in one place. An app can send real-time updates and provide an easy platform for attendees to connect with each other. For the organiser, an app can be used to track attendee metrics so you can use post-event analytics to assess your event experience.
Make sure your event space is comfortable
Attendees are more likely to engage and have a positive experience if they feel comfortable in the event space. Consider your venue carefully and when creating your event floor plan, make sure there is enough room to accommodate all attendees without feeling overcrowded. Ensure you check that the temperature is appropriate, lighting is adequate and that there are comfortable seating options available.
Create opportunities for networking
Networking is an important part of the event experience for many attendees. Create opportunities for attendees to connect with each other, such as networking breaks, lunches, and networking hubs throughout your event. Having event technology such as QR codes and a mobile app can also encourage networking.
Offer engaging and informative sessions
Make sure your event activities are engaging and informative. While creating your event plan and budget, see if you can secure any speaker sponsorship or extend your budget to accommodate celebrity guests. While at the event, encourage interaction and use visuals and other multimedia to keep attendees interested and engaged including live Q&A’s or quizzes.
Focus on customer service
Throughout the whole cycle of your event, ensure your focus is on attendees and offering the best customer service. Customer service is key to providing a great attendee experience. Make sure customers are fully informed of all your event details before the event, ensure there is enough staff to help them on the day of the event and follow up with attendees afterwards to guarantee they were fully content with your event.
Encourage attendee feedback
Encouraging attendee feedback can help you to identify areas where you can improve the attendee experience. Ask attendees for feedback throughout the event or follow up with survey emails. Incentivise the feedback forms with a giveaway or discount for future events, so the feedback attendees give feels appreciated. From the feedback given, consider their suggestions for future events and adjust your event plan accordingly.
Follow up with your attendees
After the event, make sure to send a follow-up email or message to attendees. If possible, personalise the thank you messages so the attendees feel valued. Stay in contact with attendees using your event social media or a newsletter, don’t overwhelm the attendees with lots of posts or emails but contact them often enough that they will return to your event.
Final Thoughts
By following these tips, you can give your attendees the best attendee experience while at your event. Creating an everlasting impression on your guests will help to build your brand awareness and success of future events.
For more helpful tips for event planning, visit ExpoBeacon Insights and news.
